Four USC Trojans will go in the first round of April’s 2008 NFL Draft as according to CBS analyst, and NFL hall-of-fame running back, Eric Dickerson. The 6x pro-bowler and NFL single season rushing-yards record holder (2,105), knows a thing or two about going round one…Dickerson himself was second overall in 1983. But what’s surprising about this mock draft is who from USC made his first-round cut, and more importantly, who was left out.

Take a look at this list:

#10. New Orleans – Sedrick Ellis DT —– #23. Pittsburgh – Chilo Rachal G —- #25. Seattle – Fred Davis TE —-#27. San Diego – Sam Baker OT

Notice anything? At first it looks normal. Then, hey, where the hell is Keith Rivers?! It’s nice to see Chilo Rachal’s draft stock has been rising. One of the top guards in the country, I’ve seen Rachal as far down as fourth round in some mock drafts. But once again where the hell is Rivers? Fred Davis, end of the first/early second round makes sense. This year’s draft also has such a deep offensive-line class that most mocks have Sam Baker going early second, so it’s nice to see him projected in the first. But how could Eric leave Rivers out of the picture?

Every mock draft I’ve read since the senior bowl has had Rivers going in the first round. Many have him even picked over Sedrick Ellis. But hands down there’s no way that the top linebacker in the draft is getting by the Bengals, the Saints, the Bills, the Seahawks and the Giants. That’s straight crazy. But that said, there is a possibility USC could have five first-rounders…and that there’s mighty appetizing to blue-chip recruits.